Hunterdon's National Night Out event is at Deer Path Park in Readington tonight, Aug. 7

FLEMINGTON — Neighborhoods throughout Hunterdon County are invited to join forces with thousands of communities nationwide for the “29th annual National Night Out” crime and drug prevention event.

Hunterdon’s National Night Out will take place on Tuesday, Aug. 7, 5 to 9 p.m. at Deer Path Park, 120 West Woodschurch Road, Readington Township. County residents are invited to join their county and local law enforcement and emergency services personnel for a fun-filled evening, featuring free food, music, games, door prizes and a classic car show. Support for this event is provided by local businesses and organizations.

National Night Out (NNO) is sponsored by the National Association to Town Watch (NATW) and co-sponsored locally by the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office and the Hunterdon County Sheriff’s Office. It will involve more than 15,325 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities and military bases around the world. In all, over 37.1 million people are expected to participate in “America’s Night Out Against Crime.”

County Prosecutor Anthony P. Kearns III and Sheriff Frederick W. Brown said the special night is designed to:

Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness

Generate support for, and participation in, local anti-crime efforts

Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships

Send a message to criminals letting them know neighborhoods are organized and fighting back

On Aug. 7 residents in neighborhoods throughout Hunterdon and across the nation are asked to lock their doors, turn on outside lights and spend the evening outside with neighbors and police.

“This is a night for America to stand together to promote awareness, safety and neighborhood unity," National Project Coordinator Matt Peskin said. "National Night Out showcases the vital importance of police-community partnerships and citizen involvement in our fight to build a safer nation. On NNO, we invite neighborhoods nationwide to join us in giving crime and drugs a ‘going away’ party.”

For more information contact Detective Raffaella Tozzi in the Prosecutor’s Office, 908-284-6185 or Officer Maria Dulmer in the Sheriff’s Office, 908-806-5102.